UNC Press - A Vietnam War Reader

256 pp., 5.5 x 8.5, 1 map, notes, bibl., index

Not for sale in Europe, including the UK, Africa, Australasia, Asia (excluding Japan, Korea and China), Middle East, West Indies

Cloth

ISBN 978-0-8078-3350-6

Published: February 2010

Paper

ISBN 978-0-8078-5991-9

Published: February 2010

A Vietnam War Reader

A Documentary History from American and Vietnamese Perspectives

Edited By Michael H. Hunt

An essential new resource for students and teachers of the Vietnam War, this concise collection of primary sources opens a valuable window on an extraordinarily complex conflict.

The materials gathered here, from both the American and Vietnamese sides, remind readers that the conflict touched the lives of many people in a wide range of social and political situations and spanned a good deal more time than the decade of direct U.S. combat. Indeed, the U.S. war was but one phase in a string of conflicts that varied significantly in character and geography. Michael Hunt brings together the views of the conflict's disparate players--from Communist leaders, Vietnamese peasants, Saigon loyalists, and North Vietnamese soldiers to U.S. policymakers, soldiers, and critics of the war. By allowing the participants to speak, this volume encourages readers to formulate their own historically grounded understanding of a still controversial struggle.

About the Author

Michael H. Hunt is Everett H. Emerson Professor of History Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His ten books include The American Ascendancy: How the United States Gained and Wielded Global Dominance (UNC Press).

Reviews

"Provides insightful overviews of the themes and issues. . . . Hunt's editorial comments are most helpful and illustrate his broad knowledge of the war. . . . Highly recommended."
--Choice

"Hunt has put together a first-rate collection of documents. His editorial comments are most helpful and illustrate his broad knowledge of the war in Vietnam. He succeeds in his goal of illustrating the various perspectives of the conflict. . . . Will be a real eye-opener for anyone interested in learning how the Americans and Vietnamese went to war with one another, the nature and impact of the fighting, and the long-term consequences of the conflict on both sides."
--HistoryNet.com

An excellent source for anyone seeking to learn about this conflict at a very personal level. If the Vietnam War ever needed a portrait, i.e., a human face, Hunt paints it.
--On Point

"This book, better than any book I know, shows the multiple sides of the Vietnam War. It is nuanced and balanced, and the selections are superb. There is a clear sense of looking at common issues through different sets of lenses, and coming out with a richer and fuller understanding than before. More than a simple reader cobbled together for classroom use, this is a rock-solid, creative assessment of the war using a variety of sources not easily accessible to most people."
--Allan M. Winkler, Miami University

"Hunt's mastery of the complex issues and debates surrounding the Vietnam War is outstanding. His writing is lucid and to the point but always engaging. With the teacher in mind, he has organized the documents in a pedagogically helpful way that will complement lectures and other readings with relevant and effective primary source material. This book is a major contribution to the teaching and understanding of the Vietnam War."
--Christopher E. Goscha, Université du Québec à Montréal